US energy provider MidAmerican Energy has announced two more wind projects in Iowa amounting to 338 megawatts, which are part of the larger previously announced 2 gigawatt Wind XI economic development project.
Back in April of 2016, MidAmerican Energy announced its plans to commit an investment of $3.6 billion to build the 2 gigawatt (GW) Wind XI project in Iowa — the largest economic development project in the state’s history, and the largest wind project MidAmerican Energy had ever undertaken. The 2 GW project was not one large farm, but a series of wind projects.
In September, Danish wind turbine manufacturer received an order for 214 megawatts (MW) of wind turbines for an unnamed Wind XI project — and added that it believed it might supply up to 1,000 of its V110-2.0 MW wind turbines to the project.
Announced earlier this month, MidAmerican Energy has revealed two more projects which will actually be the first two Wind XI projects — two new wind farms to be built in Boone, Greene, and Mahaska counties in Iowa. Specifically, the 170 MW Beaver Creek wind project will consist of 85 wind turbines, and the 168 MW Prairie wind project will be made up of 84 wind turbines.
No mention of whether Vestas is the wind turbine supplier for either of these projects.
“MidAmerican Energy is not asking for an increase in customer rates or financial assistance from the state to pay for the Wind XI project,” said Bill Fehrman, president and CEO of MidAmerican Energy. “For our customers, the benefits of Wind XI are very clear: clean energy produced right here in Iowa, using an abundant natural resource. We believe the best way to meet the energy needs of our customers is to provide safe, reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible energy.”
The Wind XI is not only going to be entirely funded by MidAmerican Energy, it is also expected to provide $1.2 billion in economic benefits to Iowan communities thanks to landowner easements and property tax payments, not to mention the thousands of jobs which will be provided during construction and the hundreds of jobs during operation.
“We have a bold vision for our energy future,” said Bill Fehrman, back in April. “We don’t know of another US energy provider that has staked out this 100% position. Our customers want more renewable energy, and we couldn’t agree more. Once the project is complete, we will generate wind energy equal to 85 percent of our annual customer sales in Iowa, bringing us within striking distance of our 100 percent renewable vision.”
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